James d



Feb.4 12 1924.

MOLD

Filed April 21. 1922 Patented Feb. 12, 1924.

`UNITED STATES intatti? PATENT QFFlGE.

JAMES l). FITZHARRIS, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIG'NOR TU Til-IE TIRE AND RUBBER COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A. CORPORATION Gli? OHM).

l MOLD.

Application filed April 21, 1922.

To all r11/tom. it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES l). Firm-munis, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit, State of tlhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Molds, of which the fol# lowing` is a specication.

My invention `relates to improvements in `molds for use in vulcanizing pneumatic tire casings, and it has particular reference to the type of `mold commonly used in repair work.

The invention is directed, broadly, toward providing` a practical and easily operable mold structure which comprises elements adapted for cooperation to secure an adjustment of certain portions of the mold to enable it to lit accurately all portions of the tire during the vulcanizing operation and to obtain pressure upon the beads of the tire during the process of vulcanization.

Specifically the invention is directed toward embodying means in a particular type of mold whereby a considerable pressure is obtained on the base of the beads, securing better results in the curing of the tire. A furtherobject of the invention is to improve upon the construction of an outer expansible bag or mol'd and its confining jacket or walls. j

llVith these, and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear7 the invention resides in the combinations and arrangement of elements hereinafter set forth in detail and emphasized in their assembled relation. in the claims appended hereto.

ln the drawings accompanying and formino; a part of this specification:

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a mold embodying my invention; and j Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale,` taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l with a tire in position.

Referring', by numeral, to the drawings which are illustrative of a preferred embodiment of my invention,` l designates, as a whole, a mold, herein shown as a segmental mold, that may be described briefly as co1nprisinp; a rigid base 2 and a mold portion proper' 3 that is semi-flexible in character. It is with this type of mold that my invention is particularly concerned although in actual practice the principles of the invention are applicable in other mold structures.

Serial No. 555,844.

The base 2 of this mold structure is arcuate and comprises a central radially extend ing' rib l that is formed with vertical side walls 5. This flange .is designed to seat any suitable core` of the form shown at e which forms the inner wall of a mold cavity T and serves to support a tire casinp` 8 in such position that the bead portions thereof are raised or spaced from the base 2. 'lhis may be a rigid core or may be anv expansible core. The outer wall of the mold cavity 7 is formed by the inner portion of a flexible double walled sheath or envelope 9 designed to receive a pressure medium which may be introduced between the inner and outer walls ll and l2 thereof in any suitable manner. The provision of anyY inflatable outer sheath or jacket is, broadly, no part of the present invention. Around the sheath 9 atwo part, preferably metallic, shell i3 is disposed, for the purpose of coniining the outer wall 12 of the sheath or jacket and directing; the .force of the pressure, between the walls ll and l2, against the former wall and consequently against the surface of the casing 8. The shell 13 is preferablj formedof thin sheet metal and comprises opposed half portions le of segmental shape having their shorter edges suitably secured respectively to the sides of the base 2 by plates lll and bolts 14th. rlheir longer edges adjoin and overlap over the crown of the casing as shown at 15 and are provided with uut and bolt devices 16 passing' through ilann'es 11.5"L whereby they may be adjusted laterally to suitably cooperate with the sheath 9. Apertures 16L at the outer edge of the casing' may be provided for the admission ot' an inflatinp; medium which may be steam under pressure. The walls comprising;` the expausible jacket 9 may be secured together by metallic clamping` plates 9 secured by screws if desired.

I propose, in conjunction with the foregoing mold structure to provide means operable to effect a pressure, that is exerted primarily in a radial direction relative to the tire casing, against the base or inner circumference of the bead portion of the casing during the vulcanizing process. Moreover I propose to adapt such means for adjustment to secure different pressures if desired against different portions of the heel and toe of said beads.

In order to attain this object, and as a preferredymeans of accomplishing it, I provide segmental, arcuate vmembers 16 and 17 4which are disposed in the spaces between the side Wall 6 of the flange 4 and the inner side Wall 11 of theL sheath 9. Each element is preferably rectangular in cross-section to provide an outer surface 18 adapted to bear against the base of the tire bead and movable between the edges of the casing and the loiver Walls 19 of t-lie core. At suitable distances apart vupon each side ot the base 2 are a series of radially threaded bores 20. Screw bolts 21 are mounted in the bores 2O the bolts of 'each series engaging the under surface of the members 16 or 17. Preferably a` plurality7 ot' elongated sockets 22 are formed in the elements 16 and 1T to receive the endsvof the bolts.

The elements 16 and 17 may be forced With the desired degree of pressure against the under surface of the bead portions of the casing' by virtue of the Lforegoing arrangement.

The foregoing structure is quickly and easily adjusted and by the 'use of the device pressure may be obtained in the base of the beads. 1t is to be understood, however, that thepresent disclosure is illustrative in chaiacter and is, therefore, not 'to be construed as limiting the scope or spirit of ythe invention unless suoli limitations are expressly indicated in the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. A segmental mold having va cavity therein adapted to receive a portion of a tirey casing comprising, a ycore arranged to form the inner Wall of the cavity, an expansible jacket surrounding the core to form the outer Wall of ,the cavity, and means adapted for adjustment between 'the Walls of the cavity to compress a portion of the casing. y l

2. A segmental mold having a cavity therein. 'adapted to receive a portion of a tire casing comprising, a core arranged to form` thel inner vvall of the cavity, 'an expansible jacket surrounding the core to form the outer Wall of the cavity, and means adapted for adjustment between the Walls oit the cavity to compress the bead portions of the casing.

3. A segmental mold having a cavity therein adapted to receive a portion of a tire 'casing comprising, a core arranged to form the inner Wall of the cavity, a ilexible element; surrounding the core to form the outer Wall of the cavity, and means adapted `for adjustment Within the cavity and radially of the casing to effect pressure against a portion of said casing.

4. A segmental mold having a cavity therein adapted to receive a portion of a `means adapted for adjustment within the cavity to exert pressure against the base port-ions of the beads.

5. A segmental mold having a cavity ltherein adapted to receive a portion of a tire casing comprising, a core arranged to form the inner Wall of the cavity, a fiexible element adapted to surround the core to form the outer Wall of the cavity, and ad` justable means adapted Within the cavity tocompress the underside portion ol" the beads of the casing` said means being adjustable radially of the casing.

6. Ay s'cgiiiental mold having a cavity therein adapted to receive a portion of' a tire casing comprising, a core arranged to form the inner vWall of the cavity, a fiexible zelement adapted to surround the core to form t-lie outer jvall of the cavity, and an arcuate element 'disposed within the cavity in position to engage the heel and toe portion of one bead ot the casing said arcuate velement being adjustable radially with respect to the casing.

7 A device for use in curing tires com pri's'ing, a base member, a core seated on the base member, an expansible jacket surrounding `the core and spaced therefrom and a Anon-expansible shell on the outside of said jacket, 'and means to secure the shell to the base member.

8,. A device for use in curing tires coniprising a base member, a core seated on 4the base member, an expansible jacket sur rounding the core and spaced therefrom and a metallic -shell on the outside of the jacket', means to secure the "shell to the base member, compression members between the core fand the acket, aiid means to torce the compression yniei'nbers outwardly of' the base.

9. A device for curing tires comprising, a core, a jacket surrounding the core, said jacket being composed ot flexible walls, a tvv'o part metallic shell surrounding the jacket, a base member for supporting the core, and means to secure the parts of the shell to the 'base and to each ot ier.

10. A device for curing tires comprising, a core, a jacket surrounding' the core, said jacket being composed of flexible walls, means to secure the Walls together, a nonexpansible shell about the acket, and means between the core and the jacket to exert a radially outward pressure on the base of the tire beads.

JAMES D. FITZHARRIS. 

